Sunflower Bank Celebrates Its Relationship with the El Paso, TX Community by Donating to City’s Lone Food Bank
The relationship between Sunflower Bank and El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank is proof that valuable organizations that uplift and support their communities are recognized and rewarded for the work that they do. In 2023, Sunflower Bank donated a total of $13,000 to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger through two separate donations, both tied to community partnership and development.
El Pasoans Fighting Hunger (EPFH), a member of Feeding America, is the only food bank for El Paso, Culberson, and Hudspeth counties, aiding over 177,000 food-insecure people in 2023. In an area where one in three people faces food uncertainty, EPFH is dedicated to nourishing individuals in need today while empowering them through comprehensive nutrition education, job training programs, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) assistance for a better tomorrow.
Over the years, the El Paso Sunflower Bank team has had a holiday year-end tradition of donating on behalf of our customers to charities that provide necessities to those in need. To show appreciation for our growth in the market and the El Paso community’s support, in 2023 the team decided to bring back this tradition. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger and its work to combat the hunger crisis year-round was a perfect fit, so Sunflower Bank made a $10,000 donation to EPFH in honor of our customers and shared the news with them instead of sending holiday gifts.
Ernesto Avila, Sunflower Bank Regional President for El Paso and Las Cruces, reflected on the donation: “Our history and connection with the city of El Paso runs deep and we are proud to be a part of this community. Donating to an organization like El Pasoans Fighting Hunger that distributes necessities to so many families in and around this community is just one way we can show our thanks to the people of El Paso.”
What we didn’t know, was that the El Paso community had their own thanks to give to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger.
“Our history and connection with the city of El Paso runs deep and we are proud to be a part of this community. Donating to an organization like El Pasoans Fighting Hunger that distributes necessities to so many families in and around this community is just one way we can show our thanks to the people of El Paso.”
El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Wins 2023 Community Partner Empowerment Award
In December 2023, Sunflower Bank announced the recipients of our inaugural Community Partner Awards. These awards were given to outstanding community organizations that support community enhancement, make impacts in areas of need, and provide support for anyone and everyone. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger was recognized as a $3,000 winner in our “Empowerment Award” tier. What makes this award special is that it was based on a public submission process, so members of the community were asked to nominate their favorite organizations that they felt deserved the support and El Pasoans Fighting Hunger was a choice for the community.
EPFH Chief Executive Officer Susan Goodell’s remarks expressed gratitude, "We are deeply touched by Sunflower Bank's remarkable generosity and their commitment to making a difference in our community. Their decision to forego holiday gifts in favor of supporting the borderland speaks volumes. We are also incredibly honored to receive the Empowerment Award. These donations will enable us to continue providing vital support to those facing food insecurity. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sunflower Bank and the El Paso community for their unwavering support."
We are thankful for our relationship with EPFH and the El Paso community and look forward to continuing to support both in the future!